Historical Review of the Teaching of Ophthalmology at the School of Medicine, Yale University *

Ophthalmology has often been called the Mother of Specialties and it is probably true that diseases of the eye were the first to engage the full-time activities of physicians. With this in mind it is interesting to look back over the years and learn when ophthalmology was first accorded special attention in the Medical Department of Yale University and to trace its development to the present time. While the Connecticut State Medical Society, in cooperation with Yale College, was granted a charter to establish a medical school in 1810, it was not until 1813 that the first class was enrolled. The President of the College was the Reverend Timothy Dwight, S.T.D., LL.D., Professor of Divinity. Besides the President, the officers of the "Academical Institution" were three in number, Jeremiah Day, A.M., Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, Benjamin Silliman, A.M., Professor of Chemistry and Mineralogy, and James L. Kingsley, A.M., Professor of Languages and Ecclesiastical History. It is interesting to note that the newly created medical school began with a faculty larger than that of the mother institution. The five members of the "Medical Institution of Yale College," as it was named, were Eneas Munson, M.D., Professor of Materia Medica and Botany, Nathan Smith, M.D., C.S.M.S., Professor of Theory and Practice of Physic, Surgery and Obstetrics, Eli Ives, M.D., Adjunct Professor of Materia Medica and Botany, Benjamin Silliman, A.M., Professor of Chemistry and Pharmacy, and Jonathan Knight, A.M., Professor of Anatomy. The college catalogue for 1818 lists Professors Silliman and Knight with an M.D. degree. The first honorary M.D. given in this country was that accorded Daniel Turner of London, by Yale College. Those of Drs. Silliman and Knight were prcbably next in order. In 1820 the title of Eli Ives was changed to read "Professor of